GM George McPhee almost assuredly has to make a Dustin Penner cannonball of a splash on or before D-day – NHL trade deadline day that is. The Russian forward prospect can be one of the top offensive players in the world of his age. One catch – when he wants to play, that is. Sound like a familiar formula for a forward on the Capitals?

*Note: I am in no way inferring the Caps should trade for Penner; he was simply the biggest player on the trade block I could think of that could make one heck of a cannonball splash.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

MIKE CAMMALLERI: No one’s asked me directly, but if anyone wants to know, I’ll fill them in. I think guys will just enjoy it and get ready for it. There’s nothing to prepare anybody for. At the end of the day, I’ll give you an old Red Berenson quote from Michigan. He used to always say, “at the end of the day, there’s still one center ice line, two blue lines, and two nets. So go play hockey.”

Stat Blast (as of Feb. 15th)

Tim Jackman has been a minus player in just 8 games. He’s the only Flames regular at less than 10 games. 10 goals and 10 assists are both career highs. Bargain free agent signing personified.Dynamic duo:Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay have both registered a point on 26 of the Flames 170 goals for this season. The next closest combo is Iggy and Mark Giordano, both connecting directly for 11 goals.The importance of the 1st goal: Both squads have eerily similar records when scoring first in a game – The Habs have a .724 winning percentage and sit 11th in the league in that category, with the Flames one slot below at 12th with a .714 record.Rocky Mountain Air: Brendan Morrison is close to a PPG player at home, but averages less than a point every 2 games on the road.Braveheart Awards: Mark Giordano is 3rd in the NHL, sacrificing his body 139 times to block shots. Anton Babchuk is 20th in the league. The Habs also have two members in the Top 20 in the league in this category: former Flame Roman Hamrlik at 9th and Hal Gill at 16th.Ironmen: Jay Boumeester leads the league in minutes played, but will likely be eventually surpassed by Dan Boyle as his San Jose Sharks have played two less games.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

For me, like many, outdoor hockey gets back to the true roots of hockey. Pond hockey has been played and enjoyed by many a hockey fan and player alike. There’s something about the atmosphere of a outdoor hockey game, no matter the venue and no matter the age, that brings out the untainted youthful enthusiasm and passion for the sport, and for life in general – even for just a little while.
Even if it’s for just one long weekend in February in a cool Rockey Mountain football stadium, this event will be something special to be a part of. As a spectator. As a member of the media (traditional and emerging media members). As a player. As a television viewer. As a radio listener.

One-Timer:
The burgeoning blue chip blueliner out of Sweden understandably draws comparisons to the incomparable Niklas Lidstrom. To compare Larsson at this stage to Lidstrom, however, is unjust. Lidstrom is undeniably one of the great blueliners of all time. But Larsson does indeed have the potential to be an excellent blueliner in his own right.